LYTHAM ST. ANNES, England – It’s been Annika Sorenstam’s year. It’s always Karrie Webb’s British Open.

Webb, the defending champion and a three-time winner of the Open, shot a 5-under 67 Thursday and shared the first-round lead with Wendy Ward.

One stroke behind was Sorenstam, the world’s No. 1 golfer who has already won a major this year and became a fan favorite when she played in a PGA Tour event in May.

Among the players at 69 were Se Ri Pak, winner of four majors including the Women’s British Open in 2001,

Lorie Kane, Shani Waugh and Jennifer Rosales who tied for fourth last year.

Surprise U.S. Open champion Hilary Lunke struggled to a 6-over 78 on her first visit to Lytham. Webb hasn’t won since last year’s British Open but she finished last week at the Evian Masters.

Woods four strokes back at Buick Open

GRAND BLANC, Mich. – Tiger Woods is still searching for the swing he’ll need to win a major this year. Woods did close strong Thursday for a 3-under 69, but he was four strokes behind Mike Sposa after the opening round of the Buick Open.

Woods, the defending champion, bogeyed his first and 10th holes before finishing with three birdies over his last six. He is tuning up for the PGA Championship in two weeks, his last chance this season to win a major.

“I hit some pretty ugly shots,” Woods said. “I putted well, thank God.”

British Open champion Ben Curtis shot 68.

ies including a 32-foot putt at 17, and took advantage of surprisingly calm conditions on a Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club course which is often battered by winds coming off the Irish Sea.

“I’m putting as good as I ever have,” she said. “I hit 15 greens, drove very well and putted well so I’m very happy. I thought I was very patient and felt very calm.”

Ward, playing for the first time on the tricky links, had six birdies.

Ward, winner of three LPGA tournaments but none since 2001, was in the second group of players who went out at just before 7:00 a.m. and reveled in relatively calm conditions.

“It was definitely a great draw,” she said. “I was thrilled to play a little earlier in the morning and for the conditions to be as benign as they were.

“But there’s a lot of golf left. I definitely don’t think I have won the tournament by any means but I certainly haven’t lost it.”

Ward said she felt she “stole” a birdie with a 30-foot putt at No. 7 after her approach got caught up in the wind. She found bunkers only twice – both on No. 8, her only bogey.

Tina Barrett aced the 151-yard 9th with a 7-iron. She shot 73.

AP-ES-07-31-03 1809EDT